Feeding device for step by step feeding of objects



March 13, 1962 H. w. ALDRIN FEEDING DEVICE FOR STEP BY STEP FEEDING OF OBJECTS Filed Sept. 14, 1960 IN V EN TOR. HENRY W/LHELM AL DR/N A TTOIENE 7S 3,024,894 FEEDING DEVKCE FOR STEP BY STEP FEEDING OF OBJECTS Henry Wilhelm Aldrin, Bofors, Sweden, assignor to Aktieh-olaget Bofors, Bofors, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Sept. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 55,886 Claims priority, application Sweden Sept. 22, 1959 '7 Claims. (Cl. 198-218) The present invention relates to a feeding device for feeding objects each having a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, one by one, in the same direction and at a right angle to the axes of the objects. Such objects may be ammunition cartridges to be transported from an ammunition magazine to a hoist, cans to be filled and sealed, bottles to be labelled, etc.

It is the broad object of the invention to provide a novel and improved feeding device of the general kind above referred to, which safely and smoothly guides the objects along a predetermined path of travel.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved feeding device which is capable of sustaining the strains and stresses to which it may be subjected due to rapid acceleration and deceleration of the feed motion, especially when the objects to be fed are comparatively heavy such as cartridges for heavy caliber ammunition.

A still more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved feeding device which is simple and rugged in design and which requires a minimum of movable components.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will be pointed out hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims forming part of the application.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a feeding device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail view of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line IIIIII of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the figures in detail, FIG. 1 shows a plane base 1 upon which are mounted two parallel guide tracks 2 to define a linear feeding path. A plurality of objects 3 to be fed such as ammunition cartridges are placed upright upon the base and between the tracks. The cartridges are to be fed one by one in the direction from the left towards the right, but they may also be fed in the opposite direction as will appear from the subsequent description.

As is apparent, the cartridges 3 are cylindrical except for the nose cone. While the objects'to be fed may have a variety of configurations, it is essential thateach object has a cylindrical portion and the cylindrical portions of all the objects have substantially the same diameter, as will appear more fully from the subsequent description.

The feeding device comprises a pair of superimposed comb-shaped members 4 and 5. Two pairs of such combs are shown in FIG. 1, but in some instances only one pair is sutiicient and in other instances, for example when the objects are rather long, more than two pairs may be desirable. In any event all the pairs are alike in structure and function and, accordingly, only the lower pair of combs is described. The teeth 12 of the combs are separated by rounded recesses 4a and 5a which have a width and depth sufficient to accommodate the diameter of the objects to be fed.

The two combs 4 and 5 are supported and actuated at two lengthwise spaced points. In the exemplified em- States Patent Q7 3,024,894 Patented Mar. 13, 1962 bodiment of the invention, the two combs are engaged at the ends thereof.

Referring to the right hand assembly, there is shown an upright shaft 6 rotatably and stationarily mounted by means of brackets 15 and 16 which should be visualized as being secured to a suitable frame structure. Shaft 6 is rotated by means of a drive shaft 7 connected to shaft 6 by bevel gears 8 and 9. Shaft 6 terminates in crank arm 6a which mounts a depending pin 10 rotatably extending through the respective end of comb 4 and secured to one end of a crank arm 10a. The other end of this crank arm mounts a depending pin 11 which slidably extends through the respective end of comb 5 and is secured to one end of a crank arm 11a. The other end of crank arm 11a mounts a depending pin 16 secured to one end of a third crank arm 16a, the other end of which is pivoted to a connecting rod 14. The other end of rod 14 is pivoted to a similar assembly as just described except that shaft 13 which corresponds to shaft 6, is not directly driven.

As is apparent, crank arms 10a and 11a face in opposite directions in reference to their pivot points, that is, they are separated by an angle of 180. The third crank arm 16:: forms an angle of with crank arms 19a and 11a. Pins 16, 11 and 16 are parallel to each other and normal of the plane of base 1 and the distance between pins 16 and 11 corresponds to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of cartridges 3 plus the thickness of one of the teeth 12 of combs 4 and 5.

Shafts 6 and 13 are also normal of the plane of base 1 and disposed at a transverse distance from guide tracks 2 such that the teeth 12 extend to the longitudinal center line between the tracks when crank arms Lilla and 11a are lengthwise parallel to tracks 2. This position is clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the latter figure also shows that the teeth 12 reach between each two cartridges placed between tracks 2.

The feeding device as hereinbefore described, operates as follows:

Let it be assumed that shaft 7 is rotated clockwise then shaft 6 and the crank arm 6a thereon will be rotated in the direction indicated by the curved arrows in FIG. 3. A complete revolution of shaft 6 imparts to both combs 4 and 5 an oscillatory circular motion in their own respeCtive places. During such motion, the straight edge of the combs remains parallel to the tracks and each point of the combs moves along a circular path. A turn of crank arm 19a through the first causes a movement of comb 5 such that the same is withdrawn from the position of FIG. 3 reaching between cartridges 3 and also moves from the right toward the left, while simultaneously the comb 4 moves deeper between the cartridges and also performs a movement from the left toward the right as indicated in FIG. 3 by the straight arrows thereby transporting all the cartridges inserted in the device through a predetermined distance or step. During the turn of crank arm 10a through the second angle of 180, that is, upon completion of the revolution of shaft 6, the aforedescribed movements of the combs are reversed, that is, comb 5 is moved into engagement and from the left toward the right and comb 4 is moved out of engagement and from the right toward the left, thus transporting the cartridges through one step in the direction of the straight arrows of FIG. 3. Accordingly, each of the combs alternately feeds the cartridge during each complete revolution of shaft 6 and returns into position for the next following feed step.

As is apparent, the drive imparted to shaft 6 is transmitted to the left hand assembly through crank arms 11a, 16a and rod 14, but it is, of course, within the scope of the invention to provide a separate drive for shaft 13, or to drive shaft 13 rather than shaft 6. As is further ap- 3 parent, the feed direction can be reversed by reversing the rotational direction of shaft 7.

In the exemplified embodiment the upper and lower pair of combs are shown to be of equal configuration, but the combs of the two pairs may also have a different configuration, depending upon the diameter of the objects involved. Furthermore, the cross sectional configuration of the objects may be varied, provided only that the objects can be transported by means of combs of the kind here shown.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a certain now preferred example and embodiment of the invention it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modification-s may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A feeding device for successive and unidirectional feeding of objects each of which has a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, said device comprising a plane guide base for placing thereon a plurality of objects to be fed in upright position, a pair of combshaped transport members one of which is superimposed above the other, said transport members extending parallel to said base and defining a feed path in reference to said base, each two teeth of said transport members being separated by a recess having a width and depth substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said objects, mounting means disposed lengthwise of said transport members and supporting the members movable parallel to said base through a predetermined first distance lengthwise of the feed path and also through a predetermined second distance transverse of the feed path, the movement through the first distance effecting in one direction a corresponding transport of the objects along the feed path and in the opposite direction a corresponding lengthwise withdrawal of the transport members and the movement through the second distance in one direction effecting engagement of the transport members and in the opposite direction withdrawal from the objects, and actuating means coacting with said mounting means for alternately and simultaneously imparting said movements to said transport members thereby continuously feeding the objects through the device.

2. A feeding device for successive and unidirectional feeding of objects each of which has a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, said device comprising a plane guide base for placing thereon a plurality of objects to be fed in upright position, a pair of combshaped transport members one of which is superimposed above the other, said transport members extending parallel to said base and defining a linear path in reference to said base, each two teeth of said transport members being separated by a recess having a width and depth substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said objects, mounting means disposed lengthwise of said transport members supporting the members movable parallel to said base and along two semicircular paths symmetric in reference to said feed path, movement of either of the transport members through one of said semicircular paths moving the respective transport member into engagement with the objects placed upon the base and displacing said transport member lengthwise of the feed path through a predetermined distance, said semicircular movement effecting feeding of the objects through said distance, and movement of the same transport member through the other semicircular path effecting Withdrawal of said transport member from the objects and return of the member into its initial' lengthwise position in reference to the base, and actuating means coacting with said mounting-means for simultaneously imparting alternately semicircular movements to both said members thereby continuously feeding the objects through the device.

3. A feeding device for successive and unidirectional feeding objects each of which has a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, said device comprising a plane guide base for placing thereon a plurality of objects to be fed in upright position, a pair of comb-shaped transport means one of which is superimposed above the other, said transport means extending parallel to said base and defining a linear feed path in reference to said base, each two teeth of said transport members being separated by a recess having a width and depth accommodating the cylindrical portion of the objects, a pair of mounting and actusting means for said transport members coacting with the same at lengthwise spaced apart points, each of said mounting and actuating means comprising a rotary shaft disposed normal in reference to said base, a crank arm secured to said shaft and a linkage assembly linked to said crank arm and both said transport members, said linkage assembly, in response to a complete revolution of said shaft, moving the transport members first into engagement With the objects and lengthwise of the feed path through a predetermined distance in one direction and then out of engagement with the objects and lengthwise of the feed path through the same distance in the opposite direction, said movements of the two transport members being staggered in reference to each other whereby the two transport members alternately feed the objects through said distance and return into the initial position, and drive means 'drivingly coupled with at least one of the said shafts.

4. A feeding device for successive and unidirectional feeding objects each of which has a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, said device comprising a plane guide base for placing thereon a plurality of objects to be fed in upright position, a pair of comb-shaped transport means one of which is superimposed above the other, said transport means extending parallel to said base and defining a linear feed path in reference to said base, each two teeth of said transport means being separated by a recess having a width and depth accommodating the cylindrical portion of the objects, and a pair of mounting and actuating means coacting with said transport means at lengthwise spaced apart points, each of said mounting and actuating means comprising a rotary shaft disposed normal in reference to said base, a first crank arm secured to said shaft, a first pin depending from said arm and rotatably extending through one of said transport means, a second crank arm fastened on one end to said first pin at the free end thereof, a second pin depending from the other end of the second crank arm and rotatably extending through the other transport means, said first and second pins being parallel to each other and spaced by a distance equalto the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said objects plus the width of one tooth, and drive means for imparting synchronous and unidirectional rotation to said shafts.

5. A feeding device for successive and unidirectional feeding objects, each of which has a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, said device comprising a plane guide base for placing thereon a plurality of objects to be fed in upright position, a pair of comb-shaped transport members one of which is mounted above the other in spaced apart parallel relation, said transport members extending parallel to said base and defining a linear feed path in reference to said base, each two teeth of said transport members being separated by a recess having a width and depth accommodating the cylindrical portion of the objects, and a pair of mounting and actuating means coacting with said transport. members at lengthwise spaeed apart points, each of said mounting and actuating means comprising a rotary shaft disposed normal in reference to said base, a first crank arm-secured to said shaft, 21 first pin depending from said arm and rotatably extending through one of said transport members, a secnd crank arm fastened on one end to said first pin on the free end thereof, a second pin depending from the other end of the second crank arm and rotatably extending through the other transport member, a third crank arm secured on one end to the free end of the second pin, said second and third crank arms extending in opposite directions in reference to each other and said first and second pins being parallel to each other and spaced by a distance equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said objects plus the Width of one tooth, a third pin depending from the other end of said third crank arm, a fourth crank arm secured on one end to the free end of said third pin and positioned to define an angle of 90 with said second and third crank arms, a connecting rod connecting the other end of the fourth crank arms of the two mounting and actuating means to transmit motion from one of said means to the other, and drive means drivingly coupled with one of said shafts to rotate the same.

6. A feeding device according to claim 4 wherein said transport members are in the form of flat toothed bars disposed parallel to the plane of said base, and wherein said mounting and actuating means are disposed in positions in reference to said bars such that the teeth thereof extend approximately to the center between each two adjacent objects when said second and third crank arms occupy positions lengthwise parallel to said feed path.

7. A feeding device for successive and unidirectional feeding of objects each of which has a cylindrical portion of substantially the same diameter, said device comprising a plane guide base for placing thereon a plurality of objects to be fed in upright position, several pairs of comb-shaped transport members disposed one above the other and extending parallel to said base and defining a feed path in reference to said base, each two teeth of said transport members being separated by a recess having a width and depth substantially equal to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of said objects, mounting means disposed lengthwise of said transport members and supporting the members movable parallel to said base through a predetermined first distance lengthwise of the feed path and also through a predetermined second distance transverse of the feed path, the movement through the first distance effecting in one direction a corresponding transport of the objects along the feed path and in the opposite direction a corresponding lengthwise withdrawal of the transport members and the movement through the second distance in one direction effecting engagement of the transport members and in the opposite direction withdrawal from the objects, and actuating means coacting with said mounting means for alternately and simultaneously imparting said movements to said transport members thereby continuously feeding the objects through the device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

